Khalilah Sabra’s speech in Chicago

In this episode of Food For Thought, Khalilah Sabra, an American Muslim advocate and author best known for her work with refugees in the Middle East, gives a speech in 14th MAS-ICNA annual convention in Chicago about the Black Lives Matter movement.

A world that has become terrible for not just black people but people of color. And people are seeking religious integrity and we are prepared to unite for struggle for blacks, for Muslims, but first we need to make an admission to ourselves that black lives matter.

We should not be seduced by the notion that Obama’s presidency signals the end of racism. A black president cannot end black misery. A black president won’t stop racism. Barack Obama is supposed to be a symbol of resurrection of hope and restoration of belief.

Martin Luther King called for a color-blind society that didn’t happen. We have a great opportunity to wake up and think clearly to criticize ourselves sharply and to explain what it means to develop a relationship that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had with Bilal. If we do this we would be able to deal with the forces of opposition against people of color.

Allah has empowered you to create justice on the earth. Let’s recognize first that we are the community that staged the revolution across the world, if we could do that, why can’t we have that revolution in America? Following Islamic thought we stand against the oppression regardless of who is being oppressed.

You are the children of the greatest man in the history: Mohammad (PBUH). You don’t need another message. You don’t need another blueprint about what you should do, you know what you should do. And if we do it, Allah has promised us the same victory that he has granted to those who came before us. We look forward to you stepping up to the challenge because already we are late.